GORE STATEMENT ON STATE DEPARTMENT REINVENTION

Washington -- Vice President Gore says "the President and I believe we
have an historic opportunity to systematically reinvent the agencies
which implement the nation's foreign policies in order to ensure that
they can effectively confront the new and pressing challenges of the
post-Cold War world.
"To that end," Gore said in a written statement April 18, "the
President has approved a two-year reorganization plan for these
agencies."
Following is the White House text:
(begin text)
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Vice President
April 18, 1997
STATEMENT BY THE VICE PRESIDENT
The President and I believe we have an historic opportunity to
systematically reinvent the agencies which implement the nation's
foreign policies in order to ensure that they can effectively confront
the new and pressing challenges of the post-Cold War world. To that
end, the President has approved a two-year reorganization plan for
these agencies.
The process of reinvention and integration will occur in phases,
taking into account: the central and immediate importance of reforming
the State Department; the relative complexity of other agencies; and
the need to preserve the unique skills and capabilities in each of
those agencies.
The Administration is committed to working closely and cooperatively
with the Congress in this historic effort.
The plan, which I developed in consultation with the Secretary of
State, the Director of the United States Information Agency, the
Director of the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency, and the
Administrator of the Agency for International Development, is an
important new step in our broader effort to reinvent the way the
federal government does business.
I am proud of this achievement. And I am confident that through this
historic reinvention process, we will create leaner and more effective
structures in order to ensure American leadership around the world for
a new century.
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